About the Journal
Focus and Scope
Open Wavelength Journal is dedicated to advancing knowledge and innovation in the public safety communications sector in Canada and beyond. Our primary focus is on original research, case studies, industry reviews, and technical advancements that impact emergency services, critical infrastructure, and secure communications. We welcome submissions that explore emerging technologies, regulatory developments, and best practices that enhance interoperability, efficiency, and resilience in public safety networks.
The journal seeks to provide a balanced mix of scholarly research and practical insights, ensuring relevance for academics, industry professionals, and policymakers. Submissions may include in-depth analyses of real-world deployments, reviews of regulatory changes affecting the sector, and updates on evolving technologies such as next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1), broadband public safety networks, and cybersecurity for emergency communications. We also encourage contributions covering equipment advancements, spectrum management, case studies demonstrating lessons learned from recent events or deployments, and articles related to best practices for leadership and training.
While Open Wavelength Journal emphasizes content relevant to the Canadian public safety communications landscape, we actively seek contributions from international experts and organizations to provide a global perspective. Comparative studies, cross-border interoperability discussions, and international regulatory frameworks that impact Canadian operations are particularly welcome. By fostering a diverse range of insights, the journal aims to support collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing in the field of public safety communications.
Editorial and Peer Review Process
The Editor-in-Chief first reviews all articles submitted to it to ensure the content is suitable for the journal. Once reviewed, the Editor elects to either move the article through to the peer review process or reject articles, based on quality and the editorial contribution the article provides the journal. Once the Editor feels an article meets the publishing criteria of the Journal, the article will move on for peer review. All peer review is double blind. Reviewers can elect to reject the article, accept the article with changes, or accept the article as is. Reviewer comments are shared with the author and once the author has made any suggested changes to the article, the Editor gives final approval for publication.
Research articles, Case Studies and Literature Review articles undergo double blind peer review undertaken by at least 1 reviewer. Letters to the editor, book reviews, and conference abstracts undergo editorial review but are not peer reviewed. After the review is completed, one of the following decisions will be communicated to the authors: (1) Accept without revisions; (2) Accept with minor revisions; (3) Revise and resubmit; or (4) Reject. The journal aims to provide authors with a final decision within 8 weeks from the time of submission. Manuscripts must be submitted in English. At the discretion of the editors, manuscripts may be returned with a recommendation that the manuscript undergo language editing prior to resubmission. Articles submitted by the Editor-in-Chief will first be reviewed by the Deputy Editor for an initial assessment to ensure adherence to journal requirements, including formatting of the manuscript and disclosure of any potential competing interests. If initially considered the article will go through the double-blind peer review process and the Deputy Editor will approve the final version of the article.
Open Access Policy
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
Copyright
All articles published in Open Wavelength are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License. Copyright of articles published in the Journal is retained by the author. The author grants Dougmar Publishing Group Inc., the rights to publish the article and identify itself as the original publisher. The author grants Dougmar exclusive commercial rights to the article. The author grants any non-commercial third party the rights to use the article freely provided original author(s) and citation details are cited.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of work of another in such a way as to give the reader reason to think it is the author’s own work. Plagiarism is a form of academic fraud and is considered a serious academic offense. Any paper submitted to the CJMRP will be checked for originality to confirm that it has not been plagiarized from other sources.
Self-plagiarism: refers to the practice of an author using portions of their previous writings on the same topic in another of their publications, without specifically citing it formally in quotes. Authors are required to disclose information and cite references about reused content from previously published work.
Corrections - Retractions
In the event a correction is needed within an article, the author will notify the publisher immediately and outline the correction required. This request will be sent to, and reviewed by, the Editor who may ask members of the Editorial Board for input. Once the correction has been established, and addendum to the original article will be published and the full-corrected article will be published on line. A retraction request will be considered by the Editor/Associate Editors in conjunction with Editorial Board members. Once an article has been retracted a notice of retraction will be published disclosing the reasons for the retraction.
Ethics and Transparency
Open Wavelength, APCO Canada and Dougmar Publishing Group are committed to upholding the integrity of the work we publish. As such, the following code of Ethics and Responsibility outline should be considered by all authors. Authors and Editors can also refer to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) website. The also follows the COPE Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. The Publisher maintains the editorial independence of journal editors and encourages editors and the editorial board to run the journal ethically and transparently. The journal will maintain an accurate and transparent academic record, including publishing corrections and retractions when necessary. Authors should ensure that their work is original and written by them and has not been previously published. Where material is taken from other sources (including their own published writing) the source is clearly cited and that where appropriate permission is obtained. An author’s work should not infringe on any rights of others, including privacy rights and intellectual property rights. Data must be true and not manipulated and authors must have permission to use data reproduced in their paper. Any real or apparent conflicting or competing interest should be clearly stated by the author of the authors during the submission process (this would include funding assistance).
Disclaimer
Open Wavelength is published by The Dougmar Publishing Group, with offices located at 115 King Street West, Suite 220, Dundas, ON L9H 1V1. We welcome editorial submissions but cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited material. The publisher and APCO Canada shall not be liable for any of the views expressed by the authors published in the Open Wavelength nor shall these opinions necessarily reflect those of the publisher.